Cassette



J. J. GROBE Feb. l, 1944.

CASSETTE Filed March 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J Grobe,

Feb. 1, 1944. J, J'. GRQBE 2,340,378

CASSETTE Filed March 14, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l 'Q4 l j IH| "139 IW Mil? 4/ 2195/43 50 'U 97 "L6 ./6 "1?"18 "75 @ZP/W4@ 'figg/@TQ @ff @d if ,60

Pafenfea Feb. 1, 1944 sans CASSETTE Julius J. Grobe, Oak Park, Ill., assgnor to General Electric X-Ray Corporation,

poration of New York Application March 14, 1942, Serial No. 434,722

(Cl. Z50-68) 3 Claims. My invention relates in general to holder frames and has more particular reference to cassettes for holding sensitive sheets in position for. exposure, the invention particularly pertaining to an improved cassette structure for X-ray sensitive material such as is used in the making of radiographic pictures.

An important object of the invention is to Iprovide a holder frame or cassette of unusually rigid, yet light weight construction; a further object being to utilize a hollow, rigidiiied frame member in building the frame of the cassette; a still further object being to employ a channeled sheet metal frame member interiorly reinforced as a light weight rigid frame element.

Another important object is to provide a cassette frame having inwardly facing beveled or mitered edges whereby to facilitate the positioning of material to be supported in the frame, particularly when loading the frame in a dark room.

Another important object resides in forming an improved 4latch keeper in the frame, as by slotting the same, for the .reception of a spring4 latch on a back cover to removably retain the cover in closed position in the frame; a further object being to form a latch slot in a hollow frame member by pressing a ilap portion thereof inwardly to form a latch receiving and guiding ledge at an edge of the latch slot; a still further object being to form the latch slot in the beveled edge portion of the frame.

Another important object is to provide hinge mounting seats in a frame of the character mentioned by pressing a portion of the hollow frame member inwardly to form a nat hinge seat.

Another important object is to provide an improved hinge for securing a cover on the frame: a further object being to utilize a hinge having a resilient member carrying the cover and adapted to yield as the hinge supported end of the cover is latched in the frame whereby to avoid shifting a sheet of material positioned in the frame beneath the cover when the cover is latched shut. t

Another important object is to provide a hinge guard on the cover to obstruct Vthe space between the resilient hinge portions and the cover and thereby prevent accidental entry therebetween of any object which might impair the action of the resilient hinge.

Another important object is to provide a sheet metal cover having a marginal rib or ilange for stiifening the cover: a further object being to utilize extremely light gauge sheet metal as `a cover.

Chicago, Ill., a cor- These and numerous otherimportant objects, advantages and inherent functions of the invention will becomeapparent as the inventionis more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cassette embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional `view taken substantially along the line 2 2 in Figure 1;`

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectionalview taken substantially I along the line 4 4 Ain Figure 3;V

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating a preferred mode of forming a hinge mounting in the frame; v

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially` along the line 6 6 in Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a hinge card forming a part of the assembly as shown in Figures 1 and 2; and

Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional views illustrating the operation of the yieldable hinge forming a part of the structure shown in Figures 1v and 2.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown onA I comprisingthe drawings a cassetteor holder I a rectangular frame I3 carrying a pane element I5 for and adapted to receive sensitive material in the form of a sheet I'I either alone or together with sheets I6 and I8, such as screens of the sort commonly used in conjunction with sensitive material in the making of X-ray pictures or radiographs on the layer I'I of sensitive material.`

The cassette II, in addition to the frame I3` and pane I5, comprises a cover I9 for enclosing the back of the frame in order to hold the sheet of material I1 and the screens I6 and I 8, if the same be used, in at condition between the pane I5 and the cover I9, it being particularly desirable, especially in making X-ray pictures, to support the sheet of material I1 as closely as possible in absolutely flat condition in the cassette. The screens I6 and I8, if used, may be disposed on opposite sides of the sheet I1, and the screen I8 e may be attached to :a layer 26 of cardboard as by cementing, the cardboard layer 20, in turn,`

being secured to the inner face of the window plate I5.

The frame I3 in my improved cassette structure comprises a pair of co-operating Vframe members 2| and 23, both preferably of rectangular conguration, although if it should be desired to make circula;n frame or a frame of other than rectangular configuration, the frame members may be formed accordingly to other than rectangular shape. The 'frame member 23 Vpreferably comprises a channel member formed of sheet metal, having an outer wall 25, an inner wall 21, and a top wall 29 having an inclined portion 3l facing inwardly of the frame'rnember 23 and connecting with the inner wall 21. The channeled frame member 23 is preferably braced and rigidiiied by means or" a bracing strip 33A having a Zig-zag or serpentine conguration, which is secured in any suitable or preferred fashion, as by spot welding, to the spaced walls 25 and 21 of the channel member 23. The lower or open end ci the channel member 23 forms a seat for receiving the marginal edges of the pane element l which comprises a plate of any suitable window material. Where the frame or cassette' is used for X-ray purposes, the pane l5 preferablyV comprises a synthetic resin, such as Bakeliteor other suitable material which is pervious to X-rays. v f

The frame member 2i preferably comprises a flanged rim having a portion 35 adapted to overlie and snugly embrace the wall 25 of the channeled frame member 23, the rim 2l having a portion 31 adapted to overlie the marginal edges of the pane l5 in order to hold Vit in seated position upon the open side of the frame member 23. Suitable fastening means is provided for securing they members 2l and 23 together, and while any suitable means may be employed forfastening the framemembers 2l and 23 together upon the edges of the pane l5, I prefer to employ removable screws 39 placed at intervals in the frame in order that the vrim 2l and the channeled frame member 23 may be easily separated in order to replace the pane l5 should the same become damaged. A

The cover 9 preferably comprises ,a flat plate of sheet metal having an upstanding peripheral flange lll of a sizeand shape, to fit within theA spaceddefined by the walls 21 of the frame member 23, with a small clearancebetween said walls 21 and the marginal hanged edges il of the cover. The cover is preferably secured to the frame Vmember 23 by hinges 43, the frame member 23 being formed with hinge mounting seats i5 in spaced relationship'therein, These seats 45 are preferably formed inthe member A23 by slitting the frame portions 29 and 3l and the upper por-V tion of the wall 25 in order to form a notch and a ap 41' the member 23, the flap 41 being integrally joined with the top of the wall portion 21 'of the frame.4 The free edgeY portion of the ap Ill is removed along a line oi cut 49 and the remaining Hap portions pressed down on the notch and secured in place by welding. The bracing strip 33 is preferably omitted beneath the Vflap lll, and a channel brace', having marginal flanges ii, is secured as by welding in the member 23 beneath the ilap gli. The brace it may be formed with` a boss 52 to receive the hinge fastening screws The foregoing arrangement provides an extremely rigid hinge mount in the trame member 23.

The hinges d3. comprise relatively pivoted portions'l and the portion 5i comprising a plate formed for reception'in the hinge mounting 45,

said platebeinsY secured on the mounting d5 by fastening screws or any other suitable fasteningY expedient. The hinge portion preferably comprises a tongue of sheet metal material tempered assume i being resilient, affords flexible support for the hinge adjacent edge of the cover i9.

In order to guard against the possibility that extraneous objects may enter between the cover le and the flexible portions of the tongue 53 of Y each hinge and thus impair the operation of the spring hinge, I provide guard means Et, compris.- ing upstanding flanges 5B, on the cover I8 in position extending along the opposite side edges of the tongue 53 of each hinge between the flanged edge of the Cover i9 and the cover attached extremity of the tongue. These guard flanges 58 are formed integrally along the opposite edges of, a sheet metal plate which forms the guard means 5t and which is secured, as by spot welding, Vto the back of the coverVV i9` immediately beneath the overlying exible portions of the hinge tongue 53 which it guards, the plate 5S being provided with openings Si! for the screws 55. The hinges also are arranged to allow hinged movement of the cover with respect to the frame I3 through an angular displacement substantially in excess of from closed cover position. By virtue or the structure of the hinges, the cover may extend. Y

substantially in theplane of the frame when in open position on a at support without vapplying any strain whatever upon the hinges, thereby minimizing the dangerof hinge damage. the cover is closed, with a sheet of sensitive material in place in the frame, the swinging edge of the cover first presses upon the hinge remote edge of the sensitive material which is thus held in place by the weight of the closed cover. edge of the cover adjacent the hinges, however, is held yieldingly out of contact with the sensitive material by virtue of the `resilience Vof theA spring tongues 53 of the hinges until such cover por-V tions are pressed downwardly into place upon,

the sensitive material in finally latching the cover in the frame. The cover thus closes down upon and clamps the light sensitive material in the frame from the hinge remote portions of the material toward the hinge adjacent edge thereof,`

thereby minimizing the possibilityrof crumpling or otherwise disturbing the sensitive sheet.

In order to latch the cover in closed position,

it is provided with latch means preferably comprising a pair of each comprise a strip of resilient sheet metal which is pivoted substantially at its mid point upon the baci; of the cover medially thereof inl any suitable or preferred fashion, as by means of the rivet 5g. The opposed ends of the latchA 21, said tongue being pressed inwardly and down-k wardly into position overlying the upper edge of the bracing strip 33. Each slot is positioned in AsV The.

spring clips 51. VThese clipsl 51` the beveled walls the' -frame so as to receive the co-operating end of a member 51 when the same is turned in one direction, said slotsach having an-end adapted to receive and forni the stop for the said member 51 when the same is in'llatched position with its ends underlying the overhanging top wall portion 29 of the frame 23 at the latching slot. The backof the cover I9 is also provided with stop pegs 65 set therein adjacent the rivets 55, there being a peg disposed on opposite sides of each latch strip 51 inorder tolimit the latching and unlatching movement of each strip so that vboth strips, when unlatched, will be retained in'position to enter the latching slots 6I after a minimum movement thereof in relatching the same.

In order to obtain substantially uniform resilient pressure upon theback of thesensitive sheet whereby to press the same and the screen I8, if

` used, uniformly uponthe back of the pane element I5, I prefer to f mount resilient cushion means upon the pressing face of the cover I9, and I prefer to form the cushion means in a particular way in order to obtain substantially uniform resilient pressure throughout the pressing area of the cover I9 and to'accommodate any and all slight variations in the pressing surface thereof. To this end, the cushion means comprises a relatively thin layer 61 of lambs Wool comprising wool obtained from the initial clipping of lambs. Such wool, being tightly curled, when spread out to form a thin layer, provides a multitude of tiny helically coiled hair springs aiording substantially uniform resilient tension throughout the area in which the first clip lambs wool is spread. In order to retain the layer of lamb's wool 6,1 upon the pressing surface of the cover I9, the same is distributed as uniformly as possible upon a thin layer of soft, flexible felt 69. This layer preferably has dimensions slightly larger than the cover I 9, thereby aiording marginal edges 1I extending outwardly of the edges of the cover I9 when the cushioning means is mounted thereon.

The layer of lambs wool 51 is held upon the supporting felt sheet 69 by a second sheet 13 which conveniently may comprise the same softV felt material comprising the sheet 69. The felt backing sheet 13 preferably is of area substantially equal to the pressing surface of the cover I 9, and it is secured at its edges, by means of suitable stitching 15, to the sheet 69 inwardly of the edges thereof. The cushioning means, comprising the layer of lambs Wool 61 and the retaining felt sheets 59 and 13, is applied to the pressing surface of the cover' I9 and secured thereon, as by means of shellac adhering the sheet 13 to the pressing surface of the cover I9 in such position that 'the stitching 15 extends at and along the line of junction between the marginal flanges II and the iiat plate-like portions of the cover I9.

As the cover |9is closed in the frame t3, it will be noted that the lines of stitching 15 will enter the frame cavity at the edges while the marginal edges 1I Vof the sheet 69 will extend in the slight clearance space between the cover flanges III and the wall portion 21 of the frame member 23 and be gripped therebetween, thus slightly tensioning the sheet 69 and serving thus to present the cushioning means as ilatly as possible to the senstive material. The foregoing arrangement of the marginal edges 1| of the cushioning means forms a light-tight seal between the edges of the cover and the surrounding frame member 23, and the arrangement of the cover 3 flange IVI in the manner illustrated and described providesv for gently gripping the marginal edges 1I ofthe cover means withoutdanger of cutting, fraylng or chafing the cushioning means, thereby avoiding the production of lint which, when produced by Vfraying, may fall upon the sensitive material and impair4 thev Vpicture developed therein. f

Cassettes made in accordance with my present invention have unusual rigidity as a result of the reinforced hollow frame structure embodying the bracing strip 33. 'I'he frame member 23, a1-Y though of hollow, light weight, rigid structure, maybe easily plated with chromium, nickel and the like in order to improve appearance and prevent tarnishing and deterioration, as by electroplating in a suitable liquid bath, the plating operation being facilitatedby the open construction which allows the member 23 to be readily drained after immersion in the bath. This open construction of the frame member 23 also facilitates drainage of the member after immersion in varnish or other treating liquid. The open construction of the member 23 furthehr provides a rigid frame which is extremely light in weight.

The particular serpentine or zig-zag conguration of the bracing member 33 has the advantage that it may be readily secured in the channel member 23 by spot Welding, which enables the frame to be made at minimum cost. The fact that the frame I3 comprises readily separable members 2| and 23 enables the pane element I5 to be easily replaced in the event of damage Without requiring the removal of the hinge cover from the member 23 and, likewise, the cover may be easily removed and replaced on the hinges Without disturbing any other part of the structure. 'I'he beveled construction 3I not only causes the sensitive material to slide naturally into place but also enables the provision of the cover latching slots GI in the frame at minimum expense by a simple sheet metal stamping operation. The flexible tongue hinges 53 not only are inexpensive but aid in securing the sensitive sheet material in the frame without crumpling or otherwise displacing the same and further co-operate in supporting the cover for full opening movement.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A cassette for sensitive sheet material comprising a frame, a plate forming a closure for said frame, and a cover for holding the sensitive sheet in the frame and against the plate, said frame comprising a hollow channel member having a pair of spaced walls and a connecting wall integrally joining the spaced walls and forming a closed side of the channel member, said member having an open side opposite said closed side and forming a sea-t for the edge of the plate, and means on said channel member for securing the plate on said seat, and bracing means extending between and secured to said spaced walls, said bracing means comprising a corrugated metal strip having oppositely extending spaced convolutions integrally united respectively on said spaced walls.

2. A cassette for sensitive sheet material comprising a frame, a plate forming a closure for said frame, and a cover for holding the sensitive sheet in the frame and against the plate, said frame comprising a hollow channel member having a pair of spaced walls and a connecting wall integrally joining the spaced walls and forming a closed side of the channel member, said member having an open side opposite said closed side and forming a seat for the edge of said plate, and

means on saidchannel member for securing; the plate on said seat, and bracing means extending between and secured to said spaced Walls, and hinge means for mounting said cover on` said frame, comprising' a flexible tongue secured on said cover and a pivot for mounting `said tongue on said frame to allow movement of the cover in a lateral direction with respect to the axis ofthe pvot.

3. A cassette for sensitive sheet material coin-v prising aA frame, a plate forming a closure for said frame, and a cover for holding the sensitive sheet in the frame and against the plate, said frame comprising a hollow channel member having a pair of spaced Walls and a connecting Wall integrally joining the spaced Walls and forming a closed side of the channel member, said member having an open side opposite said closed side and forming a seat for the edge of said plate, and

means on said channel member for securing the plate on said seat,v and bracing means extending between and secured to said spaced walls, and hinge means for mounting said cover on said frame comprising la flexible'tongue secured at one Vend on the back of said cover inwardly of the hinge adjacent edge thereof, and a pivot tilt-J ingly mounting the opposite end of said tongue on said frame,l the parts being so arranged and conformed as to allow hinged movement of the cover with respect to the frame through an 1angular displacement substantially in excess of 180 from closed cover position and said tongue having appreciable resilience intermediate the pivot and cover connected ends thereof wherebyto permit movementrof the hinge adjacent edge of said cover in a lateral direction With respect to the axis of said pivot.

JULIUS J. GROBE. 

